How is it that we hear? Acts 2:8

We all should be craving a Pentecost… A visitation of the Holy Spirit with power... An empowerment as a result of it.

Jesus Himself said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict the world of sin.

HE would convict the world of sin. HE would do that work. WE do not need to.

One of the hardest things to do is to convince someone that what they are doing is wrong. Pride will not allow it. The person’s identity, their security, having shifted to who they are rather than Who Christ is within them, is challenged.

When this happens… pray that the Holy Spirit come.

I remember learning about Pentecost as a child. I remember learning about it again later in life. One of the amazing things that was discussed was how the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in different languages.

But something slipped through the cracks on this one… something huge. Something that gives us a hint into how the Spirit has no respect of persons. (meaning that He see all men equally)

Let’s take a quick look at the following passage:

One thing have I desired: Psalm 27:4

“One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

These are the words of King David.  Can they be ours?  Honestly?

I know that it is hard for me to say that they can.

If I’m honest.

I want to want this.  I want to be able to say that I only want to behold the beauty of the Lord.  I want to be able to declare that my first thought is for Him always.

But I can’t. 

I’m married.

Submitting evidence to the court: Luke 12:58

“When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, [as thou art] in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.”  Luke 12:58

As blood bought believers in the body of Christ we abide… we live… in Grace.

And yet… on a daily basis, we live under the law by choice.  We appeal not to God’s grace but to our own works, our own justification.

And we hold others to it, forgetting that when we judge others we enter the court room of the Law.  And whoever is in the court room… whether prosecutor or defender… the plaintiff or defendant… it is the Law that rules them.

We tend to assume our own righteousness when we read scripture.  Take, for instance the above verse in Luke 12:28.  How many of us read it carefully enough to realize that the one who is cast into prison can be the same one who brought the case against his brother!?!

The word used for “goest” is hypagō… which can mean to lead. 

Take it outside

I remember hearing these words when I was younger… I remember saying them too.

And they always implied that there was going to be a fight.  And, rather than have anything damaged in the house or “other” place the owner would say, “Take it outside!”

I heard someone say this again just the other day… to me.

It was actually said as a response to a question that I had…